Theren
Of French origin, meaning "wild beast".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Theren. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Theren today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theren births was 1991 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theren. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Theren. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1991
8 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
1991 SSA rank
#6,456
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Theren: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Theren by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Theren during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Theren
The name Theren is of uncertain origin, and its roots can be traced back to several ancient civilizations. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, possibly from the Aramaic or Phoenician languages, where it was spelled as "Tharen" or "Tharin."
One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Phoenician word "thar," which means "rock" or "mountain," implying strength and resilience. Another interpretation links it to the Aramaic word "thara," which translates to "gate" or "entrance," symbolizing a new beginning or opportunity.
In ancient texts, the name Theren appears in several historical records and religious scriptures. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the Babylonian cuneiform tablets dated to around 2000 BCE, where a person named "Tharen-Bel" is listed as a high-ranking official in the court of King Sargon the Great.
During the Roman era, the name gained popularity among the Jewish community. In the Talmud, a compilation of Jewish religious teachings, there is a reference to a scholar named Theren Ben Azariah, who lived in the 1st century CE and was known for his wisdom and teachings.
In medieval Europe, the name Theren was used by various noble families, particularly in the regions of France and Germany. One notable figure was Theren de Monfort, a French knight who fought in the Crusades during the 12th century.
In the 16th century, a Italian Renaissance artist named Theren Aretino gained recognition for his intricate frescoes and paintings adorning churches and palaces across Italy.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Theren was a Scottish explorer and adventurer named Theren MacKenzie, who lived in the late 18th century and was renowned for his expeditions across the Canadian wilderness.
During the 19th century, a German philosopher and writer named Theren Nietzsche made significant contributions to the field of existentialism and influenced numerous thinkers of his time.
Throughout history, the name Theren has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each leaving their mark on the world in their unique way.
People
Theren + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theren as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Theren: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theren?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theren going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Theren a common name?
We classify Theren as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theren most popular?
The single biggest year for Theren was 1991, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theren is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Theren in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Theren a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Theren in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Theren still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Theren in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Theren can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Theren?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.